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Power Chord (5) on guitar

A power chord is a root and a fifth, with no third. It is the backbone of rock and metal rhythm guitar.

Written asC5
Formula1 5
Notes in CC G
Semitones from the root0, 7

About the Power Chord

E5 is E and B, often with the root an octave up. With no 3rd it is neither major nor minor.

Distortion makes a full chord sound muddy, but a power chord stays clean. That is why rock and metal riffs use them.

The shape is the same on the low E and A strings: root, then two frets up on the next two strings. Move it anywhere.

Intervals

  • 1: Root, 0 semitones above the root
  • 5: Perfect 5th, 7 semitones above the root

Power Chord charts in all 12 keys

Each chart shows the strings from the thick low E on the left to the thin high e on the right. Numbers in the dots are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little, T thumb. × marks a muted string and ○ an open one. A bar across strings is a barre.

C5: C G

C5×××123
x355xx

G5: G D

G5×××T12
355xxx

D5: D A

D5××○×12
xx023x

A5: A E

A5×○××12
x022xx

E5: E B

E5○×××12
022xxx

B5: B F#

B5×××123
x244xx

F#5: F# C#

F#5×××T12
244xxx

C#5: C# G#

C#54×××123
x466xx

G#5: G# D#

G#54×××T12
466xxx

Eb5: Eb Bb

Eb5×××123
xx134x

Bb5: Bb F

Bb5×××123
x133xx

F5: F C

F5×××T12
133xxx

Scales to play over C5

Each of these scales, started on C, holds every note of the chord:

More chord types